The Vietnam Education Foundation 2011 Annual Report

Page 138 Annual Report 2011
time, even if one is engaged in less than 40 hours per week. VEF will only authorize AT once you have been in J-1 status for
one academic year.
AT prior to completion of one's degree program, called Pre-completion AT, may only be authorized part-time, while the
Fellow is pursuing a full course of study and cannot be combined with any other on-campus employment. Before degree
completion, full-time AT will only be authorized in the summer and in exceptional situations, after careful review of
circumstances on a case-by-case basis, when all course work has been completed by doctoral Fellows and the AT is required
for the dissertation research.
For a Fellow, either in a master's or a doctoral degree program, the time limit for AT is equal to 18 months or equal to the
amount of time spent in full-time study in the United States, whichever is less. For example, a student who completes a 12-
month master’s degree program is eligible for 12 months of AT minus any time spent in AT prior to completion of studies. A
student, who completes a 24-month master’s program, is eligible for 18 months of AT minus any time spent in AT prior to
completion of studies. In all cases, the AT period may not exceed the period of the full course of study in the United States.
To qualify for AT, all of the following minimum procedures apply, which are described in more detail in the AT policy
posted at the OMS:
1) Your academic advisor or dean must write a letter, which certifies that the proposed AT is in your major field of
study, specifying the objectives of the training and describing how this training is considered an integral or critical
part of your academic program.
2) The employer hosting the AT must clearly describe the job responsibilities, start and end dates, number of hours per
week, and financial compensation (if any).
3) All AT must be approved by VEF prior to the commencement of any employment.
Please note: Fellows pursuing AT are not eligible for the Professional Development Grant.
Sign here to acknowledge your agreement with Section H. 2. ______________________
I. COMMUNICATIONS WITH VEF
You must get permission from VEF in advance for any changes in your current or future academic plans that differ
from the program authorized in this document. You must also inform VEF immediately of any academic problems or
concerns and of any medical or personal emergency situations. Your primary contact at VEF is:
Ms. Sandarshi Gunawardena
Senior Program Officer
Vietnam Education Foundation
2111 Wilson Blvd., Suite 700
Arlington, VA 22201
Phone: 703-351-5053
Fax: 703-351-1423
Send all correspondence to Ms. Sandarshi Gunawardena (sandarshigunawardena@vef.gov), copying VEF’s Program
Associate, Kristin Oberheide (kristinoberheide@vef.gov), and include the general VEF address for VEF Fellows
(veffellows@vef.gov).
Always include in the subject line of your email your full name in Vietnamese order as listed on this grant letter email.
Sign here to acknowledge your agreement with Section I. ______________________
11 | Page VEF Fellowship Grant Letter – Cohort 2011